Cpl. Binh Le

(reprinted from TimesCommunity.com, December 28, 2004)

12-3-04 Marine Cpl. Binh N. Le, 20, of Franconia, was one of two Marines killed when a suicide car bomb exploded near the Jordanian border.

The 2002 graduate of Edison High School, who was active in the JROTC program, moved here from Vietnam at a young age to live with relatives.

"He wanted to serve the country that he loved," said his uncle, Luong La. "He told me, 'If we don't do it, who can protect our country?'"

La said the family was touched by the outpouring of support from military leaders during a recent memorial ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where Le was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.

"When I talked to him last time, he said, 'Someone needs to tell these people to stop shooting at us,'" said Pastor Lynn Hall of Gunston Bible Church in Lorton.

Le and Hall's son were close friends, and Le called the family occasionally from Iraq.

"One time he told me, 'It just puts you into tears how glad people are we're here,'" Hall said.